Spooks and Hatos

"Neh, Neh, Hato-kun~" Narue held the large plush out in front of her as she walked through the halls of the First Division, a skip in her step. "What should we do today?" There was a pause, as if she were actually waiting for the plush to respond. "Oh! I got new ghost stories I could spook the new recruits with tonight. Hee hee! That'll be fun! Maybe I could get some of the other guys to mess with the lightning for effects!"

"Dori-chan! Let's go see Rue-chan!"

Madori smiled at the little zan spirit as she ran around his office. Well, it was slow today. His vice captain could handle what was going on, and if anything happened he'd know about it instantly. Maybe he should get away and see his old school friend.

"That sounds like a good idea kid. Let's go."

"Yay! We're going see Rue-chan! Rue-chan~"

The smile zan spirit smiled and then faded away as Madori flash stepped in the direction of the first division.

One there Madori began to feel for where Narue was. She was close. The small zan spirit re-manifested herself and sat on Madori's shoulder.

"RUE-CHAN! WE'RE HERE, RUE-CHAN!!!"

"Ahhh! Hato-kun it's Madori-kun and Kaso-chan!" Narue exclaimed in reply, knowing if she could hear them they could hear here. Once they made themselves shown, Narue gave bright smile. "How have you guys been?"

"RUE-CHAN!"

The small spirit ran around the woman's feet smiling and laughing. She loved seeing Narue, and her stuffed pigeon. Madori enjoyed seeing them too. Narue was his best friend.

"Heya Narue!"

Madori smiled giving the smaller woman a hug. He towered over the small woman, his six foot give inch frame completely engulfing her.

"We've been very busy. It was pretty slow today, so we decided to come see you. How are you?"

"Good good! I was just thinking of some of the stories I looked up I could use to spook some of the new recruits tonight. Thought we'd have a nice story around a candle in a dark room kind of night. Hee hehe." She grinned. "Too bad it's not raining, some nicely timed lightning would have been great."

"Oh, sounds like fun! I normally tell my new recruits that their first order of business is to perform some sort of major surgery."

Madori smiled a bit at the sound of that. The last recruit nearly fainted when he told her she'd have to perform open heart surgery on Captain Higgins.

"Rue-chan, can I come?"

Madori looked down at the small zan spirit. She was always so wide eyed around Narue.

"I don't think we'll have time for that kido. I have to work early in the morning."

"Awww, it would have been fun to have you there though." She enjoyed Madori and Kaso-chan's company, having them there to see the new recruits get spooked would be fun; it was always a blast. She was glad the one's that had already experienced these stories of hers went along with it. It was taken as a right of passage by now practically and she was happy about it. It was fun, and Narue loved fun.

"Hee, I can't wait tonight. Ohhh, I hope I can find some good stories for next time."

"For the time being would you like to go do something? I could get called back to work at any minute."

Madori loved his job, he wouldn't trade it for anything; but often times he'd like to have a little more personal time. His zan spirit looked up at him, a frown covering her face.

"You are a stinker Dori-chan!"

"I'm sorry kid, but I have a duty."

Madori smiled back at Narue. It'd been a while since he'd got to hang out with his friend.

"So what do ya say?"

"Yeah!" Going out would be fun. "Hato-kun and I have been cooped up in the library all day anyway, we need to get out." She was up for anything. "Think we could get some food too? I haven't had lunch yet. Hehe." She'd been so focused in occult researching she'd forgotten to eat.

"Food sounds great. I haven't eaten since breakfast and that was only some fruit."

As Madori said this he heard and felt his stomach growl loudly. He laughed a little and rubbed his hand behind his head. He was slightly embarrassed, but since it was just Narue he didn't mind.

"Dori-chan's tummy is making angry noises."

"Heh...so what kinda food you wanna go get?"

Maybe some Indian food? Madori could go for something kinda spicy, but then again he didn't want to get stuck on the toilet all day. It was so yummy though.

"Hmmm, I'm up for anything! Sweet, spicy, anything's good to me!" Narue wasn't picky when it came to foods, growing up she'd eat practically anything if it meant a meal. Throughout her years of life she still had yet to find something she truly wouldn't eat.

"Hato-kun's good for anything too!" She added with a small laugh.

"Hmm ok. Let's go to an Indian restaurant. I could go for some curry and rice."

Madori's stomach growled again, this time more violently than before. This time he couldn't help but laugh loudly.

"Dori-chan, do you have a lion in there?"

This made Madori laugh again. He couldn't have gotten a better zan spirit.

"No little one. Narue, let's go."

Madori said with a smile as they began to leave squad one.

"Heheh, what if we did have lions in there? Letting out big 'roarrrrs' every time we get hungry." Narue responded as they began walking, "It'd certainly be more interesting than what really goes on in there, or well...I think so."

"And Indian sounds great! Hato-kun agrees!"

"But Rue-chan! What if they got out?!"

The small zan spirit exclaimed. She was so animated. Madori sometimes questioned how she represented his soul, but he knew. His soul was genuine and pure, just like a child.

Madori looked down at the small spirit, who was now walking in between Narue and himself. He reached down and picked her up, setting her on his shoulder.

"We'd have to put them back in, I guess."

The small zan spirit nodded her head. She was a little confused, but what else could you do but put them back in?

"Great, I know a little place in the third district."

"We'd get to catch 'em! Like Madori-kun said! That would be fun, chasing lions around. Hehe, I had to chase around a hollow once, maybe it's kinda the same. Except lions don't shoot ceros."

"Yay, the third district's close so that means not much of a walk." That was good, shorter walk meant they'd be able to stuff their faces sooner rather than later. She was looking forward to it. "Spicy~ Spicy~" She said in a little sing-song voice.

"Ooooh~"

Madori smiled again at the little spirit. She kept him smiling a lot. Back when he was still learning her name he didn't smile as much. She often caused him grief. Madori looked over at Narue, and then ahead of them. He had an idea, for old time sake.

"Narue, jump on."

Madori said as he squatted down. She knew the drill, flash step piggy back rides!

"A piggy back!?" Narue was obviously excited about the idea, the wide smile on her face proved as much. "Okay!" Clutching Hato-kun in one arm, she climbed onto Madori's back and secured her hold on him. "Yayay! Let's gooo~!"

And they were off! Madori flash stepped through Seireitei, holding Narue's legs against his back. This reminded him of old times. They did this back in the day, but not nearly as fast or efficiently.

It didn't take long for them to leave Seireitei, only stopping a moment for the gate keeper to open the gate so the could leave Seiteitei. Within a dew moments they were at The Spice House.

"We're here!"

"Yayyy!" Narue giggled before jumping back onto the ground, using her free hand to fix what the wind had managed to mess up of her hair. "I think I'm gonna get the spicy curry! Hee hee~" She almost wondered if her zanpakutou spirit wanted to materialize, but then again, her appearance was a bit...spooky, which was one reason she never asked to materialize.

'I think you're cute though!' Narue complimented mentally.

"That sounds good actually."

Madori stood up straight after Narue jumped off his back. He walked over to the door and held it open for Narue. He was so hungry, he was ready to get his grub on.

"Table for two?"

A woman asked as they entered the restaurant. Madori nodded and they sat at a small table near the front door. The woman came and handed them two menus.

"What would you two like to drink?"

"I'll take a cola."

"Mhmm!" Narue followed Madori and the waitress to their seat, taking her seat across from Madori once they'd reached it. "Hmmm, I'll have water." She requested, situating Hato-kun in her lap as the waitress jotted down their drink orders.

The waitress smiled and left. Madori opened his menu and began to look through it. Everything looked so good. So many choices. Wasabi mashed potatoes?! Le gasp, that was def going to be a side order.

"It all looks so good. I don't even..."

A few seconds later the waitress returned with their drinks. Madori was treating himself today. He never allowed himself to drink soda.

"Ooo, you're right. This stuff all looks really yummy." Narue's mouth practically watered at all the delicious looking things they could be having. "So much to choose from." She was still set on spicy curry, but it wouldn't hurt to check out some side dishes, what was a meal without sides anyway?

Just as she was ogling the menu their drinks arrived, "Thanks, thanks!" She said, as if she'd said it once for herself and another for Hato-kun.

"Do you two have any idea of what you want?"

Madori was pretty sure he knew what he wanted. He had wanted something spicy, even though he knew he'd pay for it later.

"I think I'll have the spicy red curry pork with rice and wasabi mashed potatoes."

"Good choice, and you miss?"

The kid at this point in time decided to reappear. She always had the best timing.

"Dori-chan is scared he's gonna get the poots."

"Ahhh, I think I'll have spicy red pork curry too with some extra pork on the side." Narue responded, "Hmm, I think I'll have some of the wasabi mashed potatoes too. That sounds really good!"

When Madori's zanpakutou spirit materialized, putting in her input on her master's order, Narue has to muffle her laughter, planting her face into Hato-kun's back to quiet her giggles.